Laura and Helen are sorting through their mother’s belongings after she has a stroke and moves to a care home. They discover a secret cupboard containing letters which raise a number of questions about their mum’s life.
Daisy Banks and her little sister Peggy are evacuated from London but their mother dies shortly after they leave. Then their house in Plymouth is bombed and their hosts are killed. The girls are found wandering the streets and taken to a farm where they are forced to work but dream of freedom…
The plot is delivered through Helen’s perspective in the present and the first person narrative of Daisy in the 1940s. Helen has always struggled to understand her mother’s attirtude towards her and this has casued a rift. Through letters and a journal, the terrible truth about Daisy’s life doing forced labour, basically slavery, on a farm in war torn Britain is revealed.
There is plenty of drama and action scenes in The Runaway Sisters as the girls attempt to escape the farm. The author creates a feeling of dread as we know that Daisy’s daughters in the present have no knowledge of Peggy. I felt that the timelines were well developed and historically accurate but would have liked some references about whether the ‘slavery’ was based on any real life testimony.
The family relationships felt very realistic (especially between the sibings Laura and Helen, coincidentally the same names as me and my sister!) and the idea of favourites where each thinks their mother favoured the other. The protective relationship between Daisy and Peggy is also very natural and tugs at the heartstrings as the plot develops.
I would have liked a little more explanation at the end, to find out more about the events in between the 1940s and now but I think this is because I was so caught up with the characters that I wanted to know the whole story.
The Runaway Sisters is a captivating book about the horrors of war and the love and grief that bind families together.
I have previously reviewed The Orphan House by Ann Bennett.
Ann Bennett Media Kit:
Title: The Runaway Sisters
Author: Ann Bennett
Publication Day: 15/09/20
BUY LINKS:
Description:
The story of two sisters fighting to survive in the darkest days of World War Two. A heartbreaking tale of resilience and bravery, about having the courage to sacrifice yourself in order to save the ones you love…
Devon, 1940: When fifteen-year-old Daisy is evacuated from her home in London, she knows she must look after her younger sister Peggy. She is the only one who can reassure Peggy that life will go back to normal, holding her close and reading to her from their one battered children’s book.
But when the sisters are taken into the countryside, Daisy quickly realises that not everyone at home is on the right side of the war. Forced to work in fields alongside orphan children, she finds herself drawn to a young boy called John, who has tried and failed to escape many times before. He protects the other children, and his bravery inspires Daisy.
Then Peggy gets sick and Daisy knows that, to save her life, they must run away. But now Peggy is not the only one Daisy is desperate to protect. As the sounds of German engines grow louder above her, Daisy is faced with an impossible choice: escape with just her sister, or risk her life to save others?
Perfect for fans of Lisa Wingate, Diney Costeloe and Shirley Dickson, The Runaway Sisters is a tale of heartwrenching loss and uplifting courage. It’s a story about family, and the light that can be found in the dark clouds of war.
Author Bio:
Ann Bennett was born in a small village in Northamptonshire and now lives in Surrey. Her first book, A Daughter’s Quest, originally published as Bamboo Heart, was inspired by her father’s experience as a prisoner of war on the Thai-Burma Railway. The Planter’s Wife (originally published as Bamboo Island) a Daughter’s Promise and The Homecoming, (formerly Bamboo Road) are also about the war in South East Asia.
Ann is married with three grown up sons and works as a lawyer. For more details please visit www.bambooheart.co.uk
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TRIGGER WARNING: Child Behind the Wall contains graphic descriptions of violence and murder including acts against children.
Police are called to a burglary but find the thief dead with a mad woman standing over him, wearing his face. She attacks officers but is eventually subdued. Inside the house are the dismembered body parts of children.
Ray Paterson is a rich man but still a dedicated cop. He has an unlikely alliance with brash John Clocks. Together they must try to get justice for the victims and prevent any more atrocities…
I was completely drawn into this book from the first page. The action begins straightaway and doesn’t let up at all. The full extent of the remains found in the house and the trauma they must have endured is horrific and seriously turned my stomach which hasn’t happened for a long time.
The two lead detectives are brilliant characters but very OTT. I found their relationship and dialogue entertaining and funny but not particularly realistic as it was so extreme. They continually find themselves at odds with their superior officers, working by instinct rather than following the rules.
There is a lot of swearing, particularly from Clocks but it is in keeping with his character and the horrendous sights he has seen. The book also contains plenty of innuendo and dark humour which frequently borders on being offensive. However, the characters are so likeable that I found it refreshing to see their antics.
This is the 7th book to feature this duo but I have not read any of the previous books in the series. It works well as a stand alone novel with occasional references to events in the past which do contain spoilers.
It seems strange to say that such a gruesome book is enjoyable but it was! The plot is delivered at break neck speed throughout, and Child Behind The Wall really is a gripping book.
CHILD BEHIND THE WALL (Detective Ray Paterson #7) by Steve Parker
Discover a crime thriller full of shocking twists by one of the most exciting new authors you’ll read this year.
YOU WON’T WANT TO PUT THIS DOWN, PAGE AFTER PAGE OF ACTION AND CLIFFHANGERS. . .
4 a.m. on the outskirts of London
A police squad descend swiftly on a house, eager to exploit the rare opportunity of catching a burglar in the act.
Nothing could have prepared them for what they find.
From inside a room on the ground floor, comes the eerie sound of a woman singing, ‘the childmaker . . . the childmaker . . . beware the childmaker’.
Four officers break down the door to enter a darkened room. Their flashlights illuminate the body of a man with a knife in his chest and a bloody mess where his face should be.
Nearby, stands a small, thin woman. In her hand is a kitchen knife . . .
By the time, Detectives Ray Paterson and Johnny Clocks arrive at the scene, there is carnage.
But what is bricked up behind the wall is far, far worse.
A RACE-AGAINST-TIME THRILLER WHICH WILL HAVE YOU TOTALLY ADDICTED.
This is the sixth in a series of action-packed, edge-of-your-seat crime thrillers, with an ending that will have your heart in your mouth.
Perfect for fans of Kimberley Chambers, Damien Boyd, Rachel Abbott, Patricia Gibney or Martina Cole.
What readers are saying about STEVE PARKER’S BOOKS
“A must read for all crime thriller fans.” Viv
“A fast-moving action-packed thriller which will keep you enthralled from page one.”
“Another gripping, fast-paced and twisted caper for the most unorthodox police duo in UK fiction.” Donna
“Loved the book, Clocks makes me laugh out loud.” Aileen
Detective Superintendent Ray Paterson is a young and (thanks to family money) wealthy womaniser, separated from his model wife and tipped to be the youngest ever commissioner of police. He knows he’s weak when it comes to practical policing and struggles to find a place among his peers, desperate to be a good policeman and not just a ‘climber’.
Detective Inspector Johnny Clocks is a foul-mouthed, working-class officer. He grew up surrounded by rogues and villains to become a first-class thief taker with the Met police. However, his childish attitude has short-circuited his career and he spends his days antagonising as many people as he can.
DETECTIVE RAY PATERSON
Book 1: THEIR LAST WORDS
Book 2: THE LOST CHILDREN
Book 3: THE BURNING MEN
Book 4: YOU CAN’T HIDE
Book 5: THEIR DYING BREATH
Book 6: CHILD BEHIND THE WALL
About the author:
Steve Parker was born and raised in South East London (Camberwell and Peckham). At age twenty-one he joined the Metropolitan Police where he served for twenty years in numerous high profile squads before being pensioned out with a serious back injury.
Thankfully, he was blessed with a complete lack of DIY skills so was legitimately able to get away with swanning around the house doing bugger all, all day long. Finding himself with plenty of spare time and a deep desire to never work for anyone again, he dug out an old screenplay he’d written when he was still a policeman and set himself a challenge to turn it into a book which eventually became his debut novel ‘Their Last Words’.
FaceBook: MrParkerspen
Twitter: @mrparkerspen
A murder leads Lady Eleanor Swift to delve into the world of politics and women’s rights as well as into a new investigation. Arnold Aris, who is running for election, dies from a peanut allergy at a dinner party and the cook is blamed. Eleanor is convinced of the cook’s innocence and is determined to find the real killer. Meanwhile, she is also persuaded to stand for election in his place…
The dry wit of the butler Clifford continues to be the absolute highlight of the series. The humorous exchanges between her ladyship and the servants is entertaining and feels very modern, but otherwise the historical setting of the 1920s feels accurate.
The use of politics and women’s suffrage, as well as the class differences that have permeated all of the book in this series, gives Eleanor and Clifford a chance to shine. The unfairness of social inequality combined with Eleanor’s desire to help others underpin the plot. Her kindness and humanity are particularly highlighted at the end of the book.
Eleanor’s relationship with Lancelot doesn’t really progress during this book despite an eventful date in an aeroplane. I am still hoping that she will come to her senses and see the police officer as her intellectual equal unlike Lancelot who is her social equal. We also have the continued disappearance of her parents which tries to give an emotional background to Eleanor but isn’t particularly developed.
A Witness to Murder is an enjoyable murder mystery. It would work perfectly well as a standalone book and I look forward to seeing what adventures Eleanor faces next.
A Witness to Murder book description:
A medieval house, a dead body and some rather suspicious chocolate fudge? Call for Lady Swift!
Autumn, 1920. Lady Eleanor Swift, accidental amateur detective and retired explorer, is determined to take a break from investigating murders. So when a local politician dies suddenly at an elegant dinner party at Farrington Manor, she tries her hardest not to listen to the raft of rumours around the village that he might have been poisoned by the fudge. It’s the anniversary of the disappearance of her beloved parents and she’s promised herself not to get mixed up with any more mysteries. She isn’t sure they’d have approved.
But when she arrives home to discover that Mrs Pitkin, the kindly cook from Farrington Manor, has been dismissed without wage or reference because the police consider her a suspect, Eleanor knows she needs to act. If there was a murder, then she needs to track down the culprit and clear Mrs Pitkin’s name.
Accompanied by her faithful partner in crime, Gladstone the bulldog, who has the best nose for sniffing out bones in the country, Eleanor sets out to find the killer. And when another body turns up and she finds poisoned fudge in the victim’s house, Eleanor knows she’s on the right track. But can she sort the truth from the lies before she becomes a witness to another murder – this time rather closer to home?
An utterly charming cozy mystery! Warm and witty, fans of Agatha Christie, TE Kinsey and LB Hathaway will be totally hooked.
Author Bio:
Verity Bright is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing partnership that has spanned a quarter of a century. Starting out writing high-end travel articles and books, they published everything from self-improvement to humour, before embarking on their first historical mystery. They are the authors of the fabulous Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series, set in the 1920s.
@BrightVerity
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DS Megan Thomas finds her personal life and career are colliding in her latest cases. First her sister is arrested for the murder of a property developer and then she begins a relationship with a visiting officer investigating people smuggling.
This is the second book to feature Megan Thomas and her colleagues, although I believe it would work as a standalone novel. She has relocated to Devon due to an undercover job that drove her to escape London. But now she is worried that the gangsters she once betrayed may be involved with smuggling immigrants.
The personal elements of the cases for Megan is enjoyable and makes her character seem more realistic. Other police officers are also going through issues including a return after cancer treatment. There are also some thoroughly unpleasant people (is it wrong to be glad they become victims?) and they are also well written and believable characters.
There are multiple red herrings and false confessions so the range of suspects is not easily whittled down by us as readers or the police team. It becomes clear that the murder and people smuggling are connected which increases the conflict for Megan due to her night of passion with the lead detective.
Close to the Bone is a solid, well structured and entertaining police procedural novel. The writing style is clear and easy to read. I liked the entanglement of the two plots and look forward to reading more about Megan’s life and career in the next book.
I have previously reviewed the first in the series: Buried Deep.
Susan Wilkins Media Kit:
Title: CLOSE TO THE BONE
Publication Day: 08/09/2020
Author: Susan Wilkins
Buy Link:
Description:
‘Detective Thomas, there’s no easy way to say this. We’ve brought Debbie in for questioning.’
‘You mean my sister Debbie? What are you talking about? You’ve arrested my sister?’
‘Megan, she’s our prime suspect.’
Detective Megan Thomas hoped that moving to Devon would mean a quiet life. Her years undercover in London left her broken and alone, unsure if she would ever recover. Slowly, she’s learning to work with a team and trust other people. But when her sister Debbie finds the body of local businessman Greg Porter, that peace is shattered.
Porter’s wife and children don’t seem entirely grief-stricken, and his business dealings are not all they appear to be. So why are the police so determined to focus on Debbie? And why is she acting so suspiciously? When Megan learns what happened between Porter and Debbie, it threatens to tear the family apart, and forces her to ask if her beloved sister could really have done something so terrible.
Her boss won’t allow her anywhere near the case, leaving Megan on the sidelines. Caught between the job she loves, and what she feels she must do, Megan finds herself faced with an impossible decision. She’s desperate to save her sister, but what if Debbie is lying? When a second body and a surprise confession takes the case into even muddier waters, Megan must decide where her loyalty lies – with her family, or the truth.
And whatever choice she makes, will she be able to live with herself?
Fans of Ann Cleeves, Angela Marsons and Mari Hannah will be hooked by this incredibly gripping mystery thriller.
Author Bio:
Susan Wilkins also writes as S.J. Wilkins
Susan worked for years in television drama, wrote for shows including Casualty, Heartbeat, Coronation Street and Eastenders and created the London-based detective drama South of the Border.
Her gritty, Essex-based gangster trilogy – THE INFORMANT, THE MOURNER and THE KILLER – has been compared to Martina Cole and Kimberley Chambers and described as “blazingly brilliant” (Sunday Mirror).
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME, her fourth book, is a twisty psychological thriller, featuring police detective Jo Boden, an ambitious cop still grieving for a murdered sister.
For 2020 a completely gripping new series from Susan introduces the tough and determined Detective Megan Thomas. For fans of Ann Cleeves, LJ Ross and Mari Hannah, this will keep you hooked from the first page to the last.
Writing as S.J. Wilkins, A KILLER’S HEART – a tense and timely political thriller, is now available on Kindle.
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TRIGGER WARNING: this book deals with the aftermath of suicide.
Sue is a 111 call handler, her days are varied and often comical. But one day she is the one to call, after she arrives home to find her husband has committed suicide. Flo is in her 70s and determined that life should still be full of adventures yet her husband wants a peaceful retirement. Raven is taking a gap year before university, battling against her parents’ expectations of being a lawyer. Kath is one half of a celbrity couple who is growing increasingly unhappy with her insensitive husband.
Together the women challenge themselves to complete a charity cycle ride. Can they overcome more than just the miles…?
A Bicycle Built For Sue is an uplifting but often heartbreaking book to read. Humour and love radiate from the pages but so do loss and grief. There is such warmth in the style of writing and I enjoyed the transcripts of the 111 calls which were full of pathos as well as being funny.
The characters are all down to earth and very likeable so it is easy to identify with them and want them to find happiness despite the despair they are facing. I think it is clever that the author Daisy Tate chose women from different age ranges to appeal to multiple audiences, and I could certainly see a little of myself in all of the four lead characters.
Some serious issues are dealt with over the course of the book but they are handled sensitively. There is an honesty and realism about the events and characters that engages us as readers but this is softened by the gentle humour.
The bravery of the main four women comes to the fore as they struggle to complete the cycle ride and find out some home truths along the way. Their realisation about their lives, loves and opportunities, and the subsequent drive to make positive changes did make my eyes glisten by the end.
A Bicycle Built For Sue is the first book I have read by Daisy Tate but certainly won’t be the last!
A Bicycle Built For Sue book blurb
Sue Young has never asked for much apart from a quiet life. She’s always been happy with her call centre job and dinner on the table at six o clock; that was until a tragedy tore her tranquility into little shreds.
With her life in tatters, Sue is persuaded to join a charity cycle ride led by Morning TV’s Kath Fuller, who is having a crisis of her own, and Sue’s self-appointed support crew are struggling with their own issues. Pensioner Flo Wilson is refusing to grow old, gracefully or otherwise, and a teen goth Raven Chakrabarti, is determined to dodge the path her family have mapped out for her.
Can the foursome cycle through saddle sores and chaffed thighs to a brighter future, or will pushing themselves to the limit prove harder than they thought?
About the author:
Daisy Tate loves telling stories. Telling them in books is even better. When not writing, she raises stripey, Scottish cows, performs in Amateur Dramatics, pretends her life is a musical and bakes cakes that will never win her a place on a television baking show. She was born in the USA but has never met Bruce Springsteen. She now calls East Sussex home.
You can find more information about Daisy’s books in these places:
A Bicycle Buiilt For Sue is currently on offer on Kindle for only 99p: take a look here.
